NEWS - updated December 2007
Access our March 2008 newsletter by clicking here.
Outf!t-Moray Have Moved
We have moved from Elgin Youth Cafe to Pinetree House and are now well established in a portacabin next to our equipment store. We needed more space and Elgin Youth Cafe needed their office back too. In the medium term, we will move into 'proper' offices at Pinetree House once the present occupier moves out in 6 to 9 months. Our new address is 1-5 Pinetree House, Pinefield Creseent, Elgin, Moray, IV30 6HZ. Our telphone number remains the same - 01343 549571. Our fax number is 01343 547427.
Evaluation and Support from the Laidlaw Youth Trust
Outf!t-Moray recognises that it is essential to evaluate work. In the past we tried to evaluate all of our programmes and became bogged down with systems, processes and procedures. The Laidlaw Youth Trust have been instrumental in helping to turn around our processes and our method. Having attended training sessions on evaluation techniques and received support from Evaluation Scotland Services (ESS). We have now fine tuned our outcomes and are focusing on specific case studies. We are piloting a new approach that uses a mixture of paper processes (a gauge), interim feedback sessions with instructors and other methods including personal and group video diaries.
Annual General Meeting
The first AGM was held at Pinetree House, Pinefield, Elgin on Tuesday 20th November 2007. It was a well attended open event with 27 people present including staff, members, advisers and other interested people from youth organisations in Moray. Iain Jamieson gave a presentation on Outf!t-Moray that was based on the logo and the inverted ‘i’. The theme centred on The I Words (innovation, inclusion, integration, inspiration, information, improvement, impression, and individuality) and their relationship to the values of Outf!t-Moray, how we work and what we do
The highlight of the occasion was the talk given by Grant Keil who is on placement with Outf!t-Moray. Grant told the audience about his journey through school, the problems that he faced and the support that he received from Outf!t-Moray and the Youth Justice Service. Read ‘Grant’s Journey’ for a really good insight into some of the issues that face young people and the key role that Outf!t-Moray had in making a difference for him.
Following Grant’s talk, Iain gave a report on the year to date and highlighted some of the headlines (outputs). This was followed by the financial report and election and approval of Directors. Iain Jamieson (Chairman), Claire Scott, Phil Whitfield, John Murray and Ann Dunn were appointment to the Board. Caroline Saunders was appointed as Secretary and Richard Nawrocki as Treasurer and Financial / Fundraising adviser.
Click on the document's name for a copy: AGM minutes or AGM portfolio. (Minutes will be coming soon.)
Grant’s Journey
Grant is on a 13 week placement with Outf!t-Moray prior to going to College. He first came to us on an Active Steps programme from Lossiemouth High school and was in fact one of the very first young people that we worked with. Here are some of the tings Grant said – ‘When I started at Lossiemouth High School I got into a lot of trouble. I didn’t like sitting down and being confined to a desk, this is why I did not do a lot of work in school and got into trouble with many teachers’…. ‘My group went onto Outfit Moray’s first programme in 2003 and on a Tuesday afternoon, we were taken out of school and introduced to kayaking as a team-building activity. This was on going for a few weeks until the group was split up into three groups. The group that I was in was the hardest working of the three and was challenged the most’. The Youth Justice Service was also instrumental in supporting Grant and organised a programme for him with the Venture Trust and following this with Outf!t-Moray…… ‘I was doing a lot of work with George from Youth Justice and I felt I covered a lot of ground, I had self-evaluations to complete and then George mentioned Outfit Moray, I jumped at the chance. I really enjoyed the programme and was very motivated throughout it because I knew what to expect. The positive attitude of the instructors was very encouraging and helped me get to know them’. After I finished with Youth Justice, Grant got an interview with Support Training Ltd who said they would fund a placement if I were to get one………….. ‘I had an interview at Outf!t-Moray, Steve and Ibrahim offered me a two day a week trial with them on a Thursday and Friday for three weeks. The rest of the time I went to Support Training’s office where I covered health and safety, work place checks and risk assessments out of a text-book. But I wanted to be at Outfit five days a week, I put in loads of effort over those two days to make sure they would offer me a full time placement. After the three weeks I got additional hours I had worked hard for, my step by step plan was working and I felt like I had control of my choices in life.
I’m now on my ninth week and thoroughly enjoying my time. I get on with everyone, they are all really cool people and a good laugh. I go out and help with group activities, assist Steve in the storeroom helping maintain mountain bikes and equipment. I think my past experiences have helped my relationships with young people. They have similar behavioural issues as I once had; I feel I understand these youngsters and their problems. I look at these young people and see what I was like at school, I hope that I can help them realise where they are before they get to the stage that I did.
I really want to follow this line of work as a career and Outfit have played a big part in that to date. In the past I have not found anything that inspires me to apply myself, now I have. Looking at the road I wish to travel in the direction that I choose to take has now become clear and I am inspired. Since working with Outfit, I have kept a logbook recording the activities I’ve been doing with groups and the kayak sessions that I have attended in my own time at the Moray Canoe and Kayak Club. I go there every Tuesday night for training in the pool.
I have applied to Inverness College to study Outdoor Pursuit Level One and I’m due to start in January next year. The course lasts Eighteen weeks, applicants for the Level Two Outdoor Pursuit have to be 18 year of age so I plan on coming back to help Outfit, volunteering for more experience if they will have me.... I would like to thank all the Outfit staff in giving me this chance to get something I really want out of life and for introducing me to a lifestyle I want to live’.
For Grants full story – click here
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